Dracaena plant named ‘EVE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Dracaena fragans  plant named ‘EVE’ particularly characterized by its yellowish to yellowish-green foliage with brilliant yellowish-green margins; long, lanceolate leaves, annual growth rate of about 75 cm, and erect plant habit.

Latin name of the genus and species of the claimed plant: Dracaenafragans.

Variety denomination: ‘EVE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dracaenaplant, botanically known as Dracaena fragans var. massangeana, of thefamily Asparagaceae, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘EVE’.

Dracaena is a monocotyledonous tropical foliage plant which can beproduced as a single or multi-stemmed plant for interior use or outdoorsin shade in zones 9 or 10 only.

The new Dracaena ‘EVE’ originated as a naturally-occurring whole plantvariation of an unpatented Dracaena fragans cultivar ‘Massangeana’. Thenew Dracaena ‘EVE’ was discovered and selected by the inventor WilliamVásquez Ulate in January 2006, as a single variation within a controlledenvironment, in Candelaria, Palmares, Alajuela province, Costa Rica.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dracaena cultivar by vegetative cuttingswas first performed in September 2006 in Candelaria, Palmares, Alajuela,Costa Rica, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristicsas herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivarreproduces true to type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘EVE’, which in combination distinguishthis Dracaena as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Strong yellowish and brilliant yellowish green colored        foliage with brilliant yellowish green colored margins and;    -   2. Long lanceolate leaves;    -   3. Annual growth rate of about 75 cm; and    -   4. Erect plant habit.

Plants of the new Dracaena ‘EVE’ differ from plants of the parentalcultivar, Dracaena fragans ‘Massangeana’ (unpatented) in thecharacteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parent Variety Parent New Cultivar Dracaenafragans Characteristic ‘EVE’ ‘Massangeana’ (unpatented) Plant Vigor Lessvigorous More vigorous Color Strong yellowish and Deep yellowish andbrilliant brilliant yellowish green yellowish green foliage foliageShape Lanceolate with curved Lanceolate and wider leaves downwards tipsTexture of Smooth and waxy Smooth and waxy leaves

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new Dracaena ‘EVE’ is the parent variety,Dracaena fragans ‘Massangeana’, in the characteristics described inTable 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Dracaena cultivar ‘EVE’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the color of‘EVE’.

FIG. 1—Side view of a six month old plant of Dracaena ‘EVE’ in a 21 cmdiameter pot.

FIG. 2—Top view of a six month old plant of Dracaena ‘EVE’ in a 21 cmdiameter pot.

FIGS. 3A and 3B—close-up view of the typical upper surface (A) and lowersurface (B) of leaves of ‘EVE’ at 6 months of age.

FIGS. 4A and 4B—View of the typical young roots (A) and mature roots (B)of ‘EVE’ at 6 months of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Dracaena ‘EVE’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may varywith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, andday length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new Dracaena cultivar‘EVE’ as grown in Candelaria, Palmares, Alajuela province, Costa Ricaunder conditions which closely approximate those generally used incommercial practice. The average temperature is 28° C. during the dayand 15° C. at night with natural light conditions. Plants of the newDracaena cultivar ‘EVE’ are grown under light conditions of about 80%shade from natural sunlight and about 80% relative humidity. Nosupplementary artificial light is necessary. Plants of the new Dracaena‘EVE’ are given 1) a liquid 24-8-16 fertilizer weekly, and 2) a granularNutricote 18-6-12 fertilizer every 100 days. No growth retardants areused when growing plants of the new Dracaena ‘EVE’.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.) The photographs and descriptions were taken during thedry season in Candelaria, Palmares, Alajuela province, Costa Rica inwhen outdoor day temperatures ranged from 25-28° C. The age of theplants described is 6 months.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Dracaena fragans.        -   Commercial.—‘EVE’.-   Parentage: Dracaena fragans ‘Massangeana’ (unpatented).-   Optimal growth conditions:    -   -   Light intensity.—80% shade. Adapts to conditions of light            and shade, both interior and exterior.        -   Temperature.—Day: 25° C. to 28° C. Night: 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerant to a low temperature of            about 10° C. and tolerant to a high temperature of about 35°            C.        -   Fertilization.—A liquid 24-8-16 fertilizer weekly, and a            granular Nutricote 18-6-12 fertilizer every 100 days.        -   Growth regulators.—None.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Vegetative, by air layer or rooted cuttings.        -   Rooting habit and description.—Easy to root. Roots are            mostly fibrous and finely branched. In the var. ‘EVE’,            mature plant can present Brilliant Yellow (RHS 7A) roots            over 2 m in length and 4-8 mm thick, being thicker at its            origin. Young roots are Pale Yellow (RHS 8D) and white            towards the tips. The tip is completely white. Young roots            tend to produce more secondary roots than mature roots. The            secondary roots are 1 mm thick and extend 10 to 12 cm. They            can be whitish when they are young and Brilliant Yellow (RHS            7A) when ripe. In the new roots, secondary ones do not            achieve more than 6 cm, as the tertiary.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 to 15 days at 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 30 to 45 days at 25°            C.-   Plant:    -   -   General appearance and form.—        -   Height.—About 4 m when grown in ground; about 1.5 m when            grown in a 21 cm size container.        -   Spread.—About 1 m when grown in ground; About 50 cm when            grown in 21 cm size container.        -   Form.—Monocot; leaves whorled, leaf bases wrap around the            stem.        -   Shape.—Column.        -   Growth rate and habit.—About 75 cm per year; upright.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Stem.—Length: About 4 m when grown in ground; About 1.5 m            when grown in 21 cm size container. Diameter: About 40 cm to            50 cm. Shape: round. Texture: rough. Color: RHS 195C            Greyed-Green. Strength: very strong. Internode length: About            20 mm to 40 mm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Quantity.—About 25 leaves per stem at 75 cm.        -   Arrangement and attachment.—Single, alternate; leaves            whorled; leaf bases wrap around the stem.        -   Leaf length.—About 47 cm.        -   Leaf width.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Overall shape of leaf.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex shape.—Acute, triangular and curved downwards.        -   Base shape.—Plane.        -   Margin.—Sharp, smooth.        -   Texture (upper and under surface).—Smooth and waxy.        -   Pubescence (upper and under surface).—None.        -   Color and dimensions of coloration.—Upper Surface: Midrib:            RHS 143A, Green; about 2 mm wide. Central Band: RHS 144C,            Yellow-Green; about 3 cm wide. Longitudinal Stripes: RHS            141C, Green; about 1 to 2 mm wide. Margins: RHS 150C,            Yellow-Green; about 1.5 to 2 cm wide. Lower Surface: Midrib:            RHS 150D, Yellow-Green; about 4 mm wide. Central Band: RHS            144D, Yellow-Green; about 3.5 cm wide. Margins: RHS 141C,            Green; about 1.5 cm wide.        -   Venation.—Pattern: Parallel to the midrib. Color: Upper            surface: Green RHS 143A. Lower surface: Yellow-Green            RHS150D.        -   Leaf fragrance.—None.-   Inflorescence description: No flowering observed.-   Reproductive organs: No reproductive organs observed.-   Drought tolerance: Moderate.-   Disease/pest resistance: None observed.-   Disease/pest susceptibility: None observed.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Dracaena fragans plant named ‘EVE’,substantially as illustrated and described herein.